Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1895 — FATAL FORCE OF GAS. [ARTICLE]

FATAL FORCE OF GAS.

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AT A CARNEGIE FURNACE. Carelessness of a Workman Causes Heavy Loss—Six Men Killed and Five Fatally Injured—Mouth of a Furnace Choked with Ore and Slag. Six Killed, Ten Injured. An explosion at furnace H, of the Carnegie Steel Company, at Braddock, Pa., at 5 o’clock Tuesday morning killed six men, injured ten more and destroyed $30,000 worth of property. Five of the injured will die. All of the killed and injured were Hungarians, except James Harrison, the foreman. The explosion was due to a “hang” in the furnace, which suddenly loosened and dropped into the molten metal below, generating an immense quantity of gas so suddenly that it could not escape by the ordinary means and the explosion followed. The terrible loss of life was due to a peculiar cause. A few minutes before the explosion occurred one of the top fillers dumped a barrow of material into the bell of the furnace, which he had forgotten to raise. This clogged the top of the furnace and prevented the gas escaping. A gang of sixteen men, in charge of James Harrison, was sent at once to the top to remove the obstruction. All were closely crowded around the bell of the furnace removing the material when there was a terrific explosion and men, barrow, tools and material were hurled in all directions. Flames, deadly gases and smoke belched from the furnace-top, and then men fell as if shot. Only one man was killed instantly.

CONDITION OF SEAMEN. United States Bureau of Labor Investigating the Merchant Marine. The Bureau of Labor has recently undertaken an independent investigation in a field of inquiry which it has not before entered. The work of American seamen in the merchant service is the subject to which the oflScials of the bureau are devoting a part of their attention during the present season. Agents have been stationed at five principal ports of the country—New York, Boston, Philadelphia. Baltimore and San Francisco—whose business it is to investigate the conditions of the life and service of the common sailors employed in the merchant shipping carried on under the United States flag. The terms upon which seamen are employed, the wages paid them, the treatment accorded them at sea, and iheidettally the rations and accommodations furnished on ship board are being investigated. Particular attention is being paid to the contracts made with seamen and to the custom which largely prevails among ship captains of engaging the services of middlemen to enlist their crews. It has always been assumed by the Government that the sailor was a proper subject for paternal legislation and the offices of shipping commissioners have been instituted for his protection. The investigation is expected to develop whether the system of commissioners can be considered a success in fulfilling its mission.

MORA CLAIM BETTLED. Spain Win Pay *1,500,C00, but Without Interest. An agreement has been signed by Secretary of State Olney, Minister Dupuy de Lome of Spain, Antonio Maximo Mora and Mr. Mora’s counsel providing for the settlement of the Mora claim on the basis of $1,500,000 on Sept. 15. By the agreement the claimant waives all demands for interest and accepts the amount named as full satisfaction of the claim. There is only one point on which it appears possible that there may yet be a hitch. The Spanish Government insists that the payment shall be made by Captain General Campos in charge of the Spanish forces in Cuba, and that the money shall be transferred to Mora or his representatives in Havana. Mr. Mora does not accept this condition, and insists that as the settlement is the result of negotiations between Spain and the United States, the payment should be made either in Madrid or Washington. The agreement provides that the claim shall be paid in Spanish gold dollars, which are of slightly less value than the American coin. BANDITS OF THE RAIL. Hold Up the Union Pacific Flyer in Nebraska. Union Pacific No. 8 overland flyer, due in Omaha Wednesday morning at 10:25, was held up by highwaymen at some point between Brady Island and Gothenburg, Neb. The train left North Platte at 11 o'clock Monday night The engine was cut off by the bandits and sent forward while they looted the train. The engine went on to Gothenburg for assistance. The robbers blew up the express car with dynamite. While they were using the engineer to get the express car open the fireman ran off with the engine to Gothenburg for assistance. The country in the vicinity of the holdup is fairly well settled. All were heavily armed and a conflict is probable.

SANK IN THE MISSISSIPPI. s%■ Steamer City of Sheffield Strikes an Obstruction. The steamer City' of Sheffield, from St Louis to Tennessee River, struck an obstruction in the Mississippi River back of Cairo, 111., and sank. She will be raised without trouble. No lives were lost and the passengers who remained on board were taken off by the Margaret. The Sheffield had 100 passengers. The boat knocked a hole in her bottom twelve feet long, and filled and settled down smooth and square on a bar. Most of the passengers were asleep and knew nothing of the accident until morning. Fonr Firemen Badly Injured. At Indianapolis while the foundry of Ewald, Over & Co. was burning the roof fell. Fire Chief Webster, Captain John Glazier and Pipeman Tony O’Hara and Benjamin Deck and Pipeman Deck were severely bruised. Loss by fire, $10,000; insured. Many Blessings for Lay den. Joseph Layden, of Malden, W. Va., is the father of twenty-eight children, his youngest being a 10-pound boy a day or two ago. Mr. Layden is 74 years old and his wife 55. Victim of a Young Forger. Several months ago a prepossessinglooking young man introduced himself to William H. English, the millionaire exbanker of Indianapolis, as Anton Frederick Bade, the owner of forty acres of land whfch he wished to mortgage for SBOO. Mr. English made the loan, and it develops that he was duped. Two Tramps Are Killed. Tuesday night while the Chicago and Alton east-bound passenger train was running between Marshall, Mo., and Slater it etro ck a cow. Four tramps were m the engine and two of them were killed eatright. The third was fatally Injured.

DRUGGISTS TALK FIG*T. Convention at Denver Declares War on Cst-Rate Store*. Nearly fifteen hundred retail druggists, coming from all parts of the Union and representing the sixty thousand persons engaged, in that business in the United States, in the forty-third annual convention of the American Pharmaceutical Association at Denver. The delegates were called to order in the assembly hall of the Brown Palace Hotel by the president of the organisation, William Simpson, of Raleigh, N. C., who delivered a lengthy address dealing with numerous questions affecting the druggists of the country. There was some plain talk concerning the competition to which the retail druggista are subjected from dry goods, department and other stores, as well as from the “cut rate" emporiums that are now to be found in every large city. This is a sore point with the delegates, who now find their business being diverted to the ent-rate stores. Many of them were of the opinion that the only plan for relief is to beat the “cutters” at their own game by cutting prices to bedrock until they are glad to get out of the business. THE BALL PLATERS. Standing of the Clubs in Their Race for the Pennant. The following is the standing of the clubs in the National League: Per P. W. L. cent. Cleveland 101 63 38 .623 Baltimore 91 50 35 .615 Pittsburg 97 58 39 .598 Chicago 99 55 44 .556 Cincinnati .... 94 52 • . 42 .553 Boston 93 51 42 .548 Philadelphia .... 93 51 42 .548 Brooklyn 95 50 45 .526 New York 95 47 48 .495 Washington .... 87 30 57 .345 St. L0ui5....... 98 32 66 .326 Louisville 91 22 69 .242

WESTERN’ l. HAGUE. The following is the standing of the clubs in the Western League: Per P. W. L. cent. Indianapolis .... 95 61 34 .042 St. Paul 95 56 39 .589 Kansas City.... 96 55 41 .572 Minneapolis .... 94 49 45 .521 Milwaukee ..... 96 47 49 .489 Detroit 103 43 60 .417 Terre Haute. ... 98 40 58 .408 Grand Rapids... 99 33 66 .333 THOUSANDS DIE OF THE PLAGUE. Cholera Making Frightful Inroads in the Army of Japan. Although passengers arriving by the Oriental liners that have reached Victoria this week agree in the statement that cholera is working frightful havoc in Japan, the newspapers of that country contain no reference to the devastation of the plague. This is probably due to the fact that the disease finds its victims chiefly among soldiers recently returned from the front, and the Government therefore takes advantage of the law relating to tfie censorship to thq fullest extent. According to officers of the Victoria and the more recently arrived Empress of Japan, the military has suffered a loss of thousands during the past few months, and the principal stations in Japan are at present converted into great hospitals. The Formosa expedition has proved especially disastrous- a

SOLD FOR $9,800,000. Whisky Trust Assets Go Under the Hammer for that Sunt. Receiver McNulta, of the whisky trust, accepted the bid of $9,800,000 of the reorganization committee for the seventeen distilleries and the appointments owned by the trust and thereby consummated one of the biggest transfers of property that have ever been made at auction in this country. Financial men declare that this sale, involving nearly $10,000,000, marks the largest delivery of an industrial plant ever made. The amount obtained was exactly the sum named in le- ( gal proceedings as the upset price offered by the reorganization committee previous to the efforts of interests said to be identical with those of ex-President Greenbut and ex-Director Morris to enjoin the sale to the reorganization committee on the complaint that the latter contemplated nothing less than the rehabilitation of the old trust. CANADIAN CATTLE BARRED. British Board Says Embargo Will Not Be Raised. A question of great interest to Canada waß asked in the House of Commons at Loudon by Mr. Price, who inquired if the Government was aware that the present exclusion of Canadian store cattle had caused and was causing severe loss in some of the agricultural districts, and whether the restriction can be removed. The President of the Board of Agriculture, W alter Long, replied, saying that as late as July 10 cases of cattle suffering from pleuro-pneumonia had been found among cargoes coming from Canada, and the Government in consequence must maintain the restriction placed upon such cattle. Mr. Long Added that the Government was communicating with the Government of the Dominion of Canada on the subject.

Deplorable Tragedy. Jacob Schlcsser Sr. lived with his family at 463} Kedzie avenue and ran a grocery as 4811 Archer avenue, Chicago. During the last few years his son, John, has assisted him in the store. Schlesser Sr. was out with the wagon Thursday making collections. Just after noon he drove past the store and stopped in front of Charles Reiehel’s saloon across the street. He remained there for hours, playing cards and drinking. His son took the horse and put it in the stable. At 4:45 o’clock the father came out and was told John had stabled the horse. On hearing this the angered man drew a pistol and crossed to the store. “Did you take that horse?” he shouted to,the son. John answered “Yes,” and instantly his father fired, the bullet entering the right lung. The lad fell and bystanders ran to his aid. Only one shot was fired. “A smile played about his lips,” said Thomas Pillow-, one of those who had lifted up John’s head, “and he said, ‘Oh, father!’ Then he died.” Schlesser fully realized that night what he had done. He sat in his cell, quiet most of the time, his in his hands. Occasionally he cried out in agony. Died to Escape Cruelty. The London Times’ Berlin correspondent says that grave cases of ill treatment of the crew of Steamship Kaiser Wilhelm have beefi' 'reported. Two stokers jumped overboard in despair and were drowned. A third died from brutality inflicted by the engineer. e. — . >.. •■’ - A Distilleries to Start. A Peoria distiller who attended the Distilling and Cattle Feeding Coinpany sale at Chicago reports that two or three Peoria distilleries will be started up’uhder a new corporation about Get. 1. Goes to Washington and Lee, Professor William Spencer Currell, professor of English at Davidson College, N. C., has been elected to fill the chair of modern languages and English in Washington and Lee University. The Puzzle of Trade, it. G. Dun & Go. say in their Review of Trade: “It is a belated season; a frozen May set everything back. The heavy

burines* which ought to have been done in May and Jane waa pushed into July, so that the midsummer decline, doe In Josy. Ironies in With this In mind, one is not surprised to find the shrinkage from July to August rather more copspicuoua tha*'usual. The disappointing croMreports Saturday, though evidently distrusted, lessen confidence in regar<£f# the future of trade, even while some speculators gain by them. Back of all doubts Is fact that the industries are doing better ftian anybody could have expected.” SEVEN PEOPLE MEET DEATH. Fatal Capsizing of a Pleasure Craft at Grey's Creek, Md. By the overloading of a small pleasure boat at Ocean City, Md., an entire family was drowned Sunday and two other families are in mourning. A party of farmers from the neighborhood of Frankford and Selbyrille. Del., had a fish fry on Grey’s Creek, a branch of the Isle of Wight Bay, with bathing, fishing and amusements. William Hudson carried a party of nine out sailing and as the boat was about to come back the women of the party jumped screaming on the high sigh, capsizing the little craft, which was hardly large enough to carry five persons. The follow* ing seven were drowned: Lina Hall, aged 19; Lulu Hall, aged 14, daughter of Elisha Hall,* of F¥bnkford: vWtlliam Storr, Jus wife, aged 35; Ida Storr, aged 16; May Storr. aged 14<; Myrtle Stevens, aged 10, daughter of Joshua Stevens, of Selbyrille. W. W.TAYLOR SENTENCED. Ex-Treasurer of South Dakota Gets Five Years at Hard Labor. The court-room at Pierre, S. D., was crowded Wednesday to hear judgment pronounced on W. W. Taylor, defaulting ex-State Treasurer. When asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be pronounced on him, Taylor in a low voice replied: “I have not” Judge Gassy then reviewed the case and the different statutes bearing upon the crime. He considered the much-discussed section 1,665 void and did not believe a two-year sentence was intended to cover such a case as this. He considered that Taylor’s worst crime was in attempting to force a compromise after gathering together all the State funds he could lay his hands on. A sentence of five years at hard labor was then pronounced.

SAUER’S BOND FORFEITED. Ohio Baijk Cashier, Now in Chicago, Escapes Imprisonment. . The bond of Andrew Sauer, cashier of the defunct Defiance, Ohio, Savings Bank, was declared forfeited in the Common Pleas Court Friday by Judge Snook. Saner is under indictment for perjury and embezzlement and was held in the sum of $14,000. He was once tried, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for two years on a charge of perjury, but was given a new trial through an error in the charge of the trial judge. Sauer is now in business in Chicago. NO PLACE FOR RANSOM. He Loses His Job as United States Minister to Mexico. A special to a New York paper from "Washington says: Acting Attorney General Conrad decided that the appointment of Matt Ransom as minister to Mexico was illegal, on the ground that the salary of the office had been increased by Congress $5,000 while Mr. Ransom was Senator from North Carolina. The decision was based on a question raised by Auditor Holcomb in declining to act favorably on Mr. Ransom’s vouchers for salary and expenses. Death by Explosion and Fire. The Hotel Gurnry, Denver, Colo., filled with guests, was completely wrecked at midnight, Sunday, by an explosion. The floors and walls fell in a mass, carrying down the people who were in the building. The debris was immediately ablaze. At 3:30 a. m., twenty-four had been ac- , counted for, si|t being probably fatally injured, and the reqt less seriously. Shortly before the explosion occurred, the night clerk was heard to remark that seventy guests were in the house. The list of servants will not exceed ten, making a possible death list of fifty-six.

Nine Prisoners Escape. There was a general jail delivery at Decatur, Ind., Thursday night. As Sheriff Ashbushor’s wife was passing a pail of water to the prisoners they all made a rush at her and overpowered her, making their escape in the darkness. There were nine criminals. New Woman to Make Brandy. The natv woman has broken out in another place in Georgia. A woman in Jasper County and another in-Cherokee have been granted tha’necessary Government license to enable them to establish registered distilleries from which to make peach brandy. — ff - Murderer Granted an Appeal. At Nashville, Tenn., an appeal to the Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Rise Barton, colored, who was found guilty of the murder of Andrew Brown, colored, on Jan. 19, on the Murfreesboro turnpike. Big Failure at Omaha. The S. P. Morse Dry Goods Company, an extensive department store at Omaha, Neb., has failed.